Virgin Mobile launches the ZTE Venture for $100

Virgin Mobile announced its latest Android device called the ZTE Venture at $100. The Venture is a QWERTY handset with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and it’ll take advantage of the carriers budget-friendly plans that start at $35 — no contract. The Venture will be available starting on March 15.

Customers who buy the ZTE Venture will get some decent, but below average features, such as 512MB of RAM, a 600 MHz processor, a 2.8-inch display with 240×320 pixels of resolution, 2 megapixel rear camera (no front-facing camera) WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS, and lastly, a pre-installed 2GB microSD card. The great news about this cheaper Android offering is the device has full access to most Google applications in the new Google Play Store. Unfortunately, since the handset has such a weak processor, you can expect to be stuck on Gingerbread now and in the future.

With BlackBerry having its troubles, QWERTY keypad phones are dwindling in numbers, as most phones offered in the United States across all major carriers tend to offer more touchscreen heavy devices. Anyhow, it’s not the most powerful handset, but it’s definitely adequate and affordable for those out there who hate being shackled down to a two-year contract.